What Are Some Good Trees to Plant?
Arizona’s hot climate would have you think that there aren’t a lot of trees to plant around the state. That’s not true at all. There are many trees that can grow in our state, even in its hottest parts. The real question is whether or not the trees you can put in your yard are trees that you should.
Not all trees are good for a yard, either for safety reasons, or the health of your lawn. A lot of trees:
- Are invasive species that kill off other trees
- Have dangerous root systems that will damage your yard
- Are not physically sturdy enough to survive multiple flood seasons or nasty storms
So you don’t accidentally plant a dangerous tree, we have some recommendations on trees you can and should plant.
What Trees Should You Plant?
When looking for trees to plant on your lawn, you want to consider a few factors:
- Will they survive in your local climate?
- Are they safe to have close to your home or other structures on your property?
- Will they take nutrients and water from the nearby plants on your lawn?
- Do they multiply quickly and competitively?
- Does their aesthetic match the look you want for your home?
You shouldn’t look for a tree that has a good answer to most of these questions, but all of them. If they die quickly, there’s no point in having them. If they’re not safe, they’re not worth having. Should they kill off your other plants, it’ll undo all your hard work. If the trees multiply, you can severely damage your property and the property of others around you.
Even if a tree meets the other qualifications, if you don’t like how it looks, why would you want it in your yard? Once you successfully grow a tree, it's not going to go anywhere for a long time.
Mesquite Tree
These trees have naturally grown in deserts across the United States for a long time. Caravans and settlers from well over a hundred years ago used them as primary sources of food. This is a tree that can survive droughts and water deprivations, so if you live in a place that doesn’t see a lot of rainfall, this is a tree that you know will survive.
They’re also native to the environment of the United States, so you won’t see them taking too many nutrients and water from other plants. You also won’t plant one and suddenly see others sprouting up in your yard.
In terms of size and safety, they’re not the largest trees around, so if they’re a good distance away from your home or shed, you don’t have to worry about them falling on anything. Their smaller size also means that if you live in a flood zone, you’re less likely to do a lot of damage if carried away by a flood.
Ironwood Trees
If you’re looking for a tree that’s on the taller side, an ironwood tree is perfect for you. They grow to heights of 45 feet and have been growing in the deserts of the Southwest since long before the United States was founded. They can have a single trunk or multiple trunks, but whichever trunk system they have, they’re strong and can withstand most brutal weather conditions.
While no tree can withstand its environment forever, ironwoods are safe to have on your property for a long time. You’ll see signs of decay long before it's too late. Also, unlike some other large tree species, the root systems aren’t known for spreading across the surface, damaging property and other plants.
Being that they’re native to Arizona’s environment, you can trust that they won’t steal nutrients and water from the other plants in your yard like an invasive species would. They also don’t spread and multiply like weeds, so the plants on your property and other properties will be safe.
Acacias Trees
This is a tree that isn’t native to the U.S. It was brought over because it could survive in the hottest environments. If you want something different and have a large enough property to support it, this is a tree worth considering.
There are several types of acacias trees, including ones of varying sizes, but none are small. They have a distinct appearance due to their branches spreading out and having a large width. If you don’t have a large property, they may not be safe to plant, or else they’ll pose a danger to any structures on your property. If you have a lot of room, they’ll be a sight to see.
While they are not originally native to the U.S., they don’t have the competitive traits of an invasive species. They won’t multiply beyond control, nor do they take substantially more nutrients and water from the environment away from other plants. If you want something new and interesting, an acacia is worth considering.
Contact Pioneer Landscape Centers for Supplies
You can’t just plant a tree in the ground and add some water to it from time to time. It requires more work than that. There are tools you should have, topsoil you need to lay down, and mulch you need to use to prepare a spot in your yard to receive a seed, let alone to help a new tree grow and thrive.
For everything you need or might be interested in, Pioneer Landscape Centers has what you need. Contact our landscaping experts today.